Tokyo Comic Con 2025: December 5–7 at Makuhari Messe — Johnny Depp, Norman Reedus, Sean P. Flanery, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Antony Starr, Karl Urban, and more; “Back to the Future” 40th-anniversary cast, including Christopher Lloyd and three others, also confirmed to attend.

With excitement from Osaka Comic Con during Golden Week still fresh, Tokyo Comic Con 2025 has been announced for three days from Friday, December 5 to Sunday, December 7, 2025 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The 2024 edition drew a total of 74,290 visitors, and this major pop-culture event—closely watched by MICE professionals worldwide—returns this year with upgrades. The first wave of celebrity guests has also been revealed, including Elijah Wood and Sean Astin from The Lord of the Rings.

(Hero image: taken by our editorial team at Osaka Comic Con 2025.)
Updated Nov 6, 2025.　

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Tokyo Comic Con 2025: In December, Makuhari Messe Becomes a Pop-Culture Hub

Tokyo Comic Con is the Japan edition of the “Comic Con” brand founded by Stan Lee and Steve Wozniak. The event brings together multifaceted content across Halls 1–6 at Makuhari Messe, including meet-and-greets with Hollywood stars, real movie props on display, cosplay areas, and Artist Alley.

2024 Recap: 13 Celebrity Guests Energized the Show

At Tokyo Comic Con 2024, held in December 2024, thirteen celebrity guests—including Jason Momoa, Morena Baccarin, Ben McKenzie, Christopher Lloyd, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ansel Elgort, and Tomohisa Yamashita—brought major excitement to the venue.

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Tokyo Comic Con 2025 Guest Update Sebastian Stan, Mads Mikkelsen, Pilou Asbæk, and Tadanobu Asano to Attend All Days; Mikkelsen’s 60th Anniversary Party Confirmed(Updated Nov 6)

With one month to go until Tokyo Comic Con 2025 (December 5–7, Makuhari Messe), organizers have announced the addition of Sebastian Stan, Mads Mikkelsen, Pilou Asbæk, and Tadanobu Asano. All four will appear on every show day and are slated to hold photo ops and autograph sessions (ticket details for Mr. Asbæk and Mr. Asano will be announced later). In addition, a special 60th-birthday anniversary party for Mr. Mikkelsen will take place on Friday, December 5, at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall (doors 18:30 / show 19:00–21:00; times subject to change).

Mr. Stan is widely known as Bucky Barnes / the Winter Soldier in the MCU, having headlined The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with upcoming titles including Thunderbolts. He also won his first Golden Globe for A24’s The Apprentice: How Donald Trump Was Made (JP title: 顔を捨てた男), and the MCU’s Avengers: Doomsday is on the horizon. Mr. Mikkelsen has earned global acclaim for roles in Casino Royale, Hannibal, Rogue One, and Doctor Strange, with multiple new projects in progress. Mr. Asbæk is recognized for Euron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones and for appearances in Ghost in the Shell and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Mr. Asano’s credits span Thor, MINAMATA, and the series SHOGUN, for which he received an Emmy nomination and became the first Japanese winner of the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series. Formerly an event ambassador in 2019, he now returns as a featured celebrity guest. With this announcement, Tokyo Comic Con 2025 enters the final stretch with heightened anticipation for three action-packed days.

Tokyo Comic Con 2025 Adds Johnny Depp, Norman Reedus, and Sean Patrick Flanery as Sixth Wave of Guests(Updated Oct 17)

Tokyo Comic Con 2025 (December 5–7, Makuhari Messe) has announced its sixth wave of visiting celebrities: Johnny Depp, Norman Reedus, and Sean Patrick Flanery. Depp will appear on Saturday, December 6, and Sunday, December 7. In addition to photo ops and autograph sessions, he is scheduled for a main-stage talk show at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 7. Reedus and Flanery will attend on all three days and are slated to hold photo and autograph sessions as well (ticketing details to be announced). The reunion of the “MacManus brothers” from the cult classic The Boondock Saints makes this a rare in-person pairing for fans.

Depp first broke out in 21 Jump Street and went on to cement his status as a singular character actor with roles in Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Alice in Wonderland. His turn as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean elevated him to global stardom. This will be his first official visit to Japan in roughly eight and a half years, and it marks the first time worldwide that he will host both photo and autograph sessions at a Comic Con.

Reedus is beloved for his long-running portrayal of Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead and continues to draw attention with the spin-off The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. He is also known for high-profile projects such as DEATH STRANDING 2 and the John Wick spin-off film Ballerina: The World of John Wick. Flanery’s credits include The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Powder, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, and a recent appearance in The Boys. Reports of The Boondock Saints 3 have further energized the fanbase ahead of December’s show.

Three-Day Anime song Live, “Ranma ½” Voice Cast, and Kemono Friends PPP Announced (Updated Oct 16)

The flagship “Tokyo Comic Con × Anison Live” will run on all three days, featuring leading anime/tokusatsu artists including Rica Matsumoto, Hiroshi Kitadani, Yuya Asaoka (FIELD OF VIEW), Chihiro Yonekura, Mayumi Gojo, Salia, Takayoshi Tanimoto, Voyager, and Diana Garnet. The fan-favorite talk show “Noriko Hidaka’s Voice Actors” returns on December 6–7, welcoming “Ranma ½” cast members Kappei Yamaguchi (Ranma Saotome) and Toshihiko Seki (Mousse) on the 6th, followed by Daisuke Namikawa—known for dubbing Elijah Wood—on the 7th.

Marking the 10th anniversary of Kemono Friends, penguin idol unit PPP (Mikoi Sasaki, Ruka Nemoto, Kyoka Tamura, Aina Aiba, Ikuko Chikuta) will deliver a special live-and-talk set. Start times will be announced later, and all stages are included with a valid Tokyo Comic Con 2025 admission.

Tokyo Comic Con 2025 Confirms Jon Bernthal, Christina Ricci, and Evanna Lynch as Fifth Wave of Guests (Updated Oct 16)

Tokyo Comic Con 2025 (December 5–7, Makuhari Messe) has announced three new overseas guests: Jon Bernthal, Christina Ricci, and Evanna Lynch. All three will appear on every show day, with photo ops and autograph sessions planned; ticketing details will be shared later. Bernthal rose to prominence as Shane in “The Walking Dead,” then headlined Marvel’s “The Punisher” after a breakout turn in “Daredevil,” and continues to draw attention with roles tied to “Daredevil: Born Again,” “The Accountant” film series, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” and Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming “Odysseia” (working title). Ricci, iconic as Wednesday Addams in “The Addams Family,” remains active across film and TV, recently appearing in the global hit “Wednesday,” with new seasons of “Yellowjackets” and “Batman: Caped Crusader” ahead. Lynch, beloved as Luna Lovegood in “Harry Potter,” returns to Japan for the first official visit in about two and a half years, marking her Tokyo Comic Con debut. With these additions, the show’s star roster—already featuring multiple headline names—continues to expand ahead of December.

Koji Yamamoto Appointed as Ambassador; Moe Iori, LiLiCo, and Yuichi Nakamaru Confirmed to Join (Updated Sep 21)

New updates for Tokyo Comic Convention 2025 (December 5–7) have been announced. Versatile actor Koji Yamamoto—active in everything from musicals to film—has been named Ambassador, with autograph and photo sessions planned during the event.

Moe Iori will serve as PR Ambassador for the third consecutive year since Tokyo Comic Con 2023. The main MCs are the familiar LiLiCo and, continuing from Osaka Comic Con 2025, Yuichi Nakamaru; the pair will energize the stage across all three days. Celeb guests include Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, and Jim Lee, as well as Antony Starr and Karl Urban. Marking the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Tom Wilson, and Claudia Wells are also confirmed to appear.

The event’s signature Main Visual Contest crowned &OK! as the Grand Prix winner. The artwork will feature across the official website, pamphlets, and merchandise. A full price list for various celebrity tickets has also been released, further boosting anticipation ahead of the show.

December 7 marks the 40th anniversary — Tokyo Comic Con 2025 to celebrate “Back to the Future” (Updated Sep 10)

To mark the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future, Tokyo Comic Con 2025 will welcome four cast members: Christopher Lloyd (Doc), Lea Thompson (Lorraine), Thomas F. Wilson (Biff), and Claudia Wells (Jennifer). All four are scheduled to appear on every show day for photo and autograph sessions, with a special four-person group shot planned in front of the DeLorean (ticket details to be announced). At 87, Lloyd continues to be in the spotlight with roles in The Addams Family, Nobody, The Mandalorian Season 3, and Wednesday Season 2; his return to Japan following last year’s appearance is drawing significant attention. Thompson also works as a director, Wilson’s credits span live-action, animation, and games, and Wells—after a hiatus—returned to voice Jennifer in the 2010 game adaptation. In addition, venue-exclusive portraits signed by Michael J. Fox will be sold; Fox himself is not attending.

The final day, Sunday, December 7, coincides exactly with the 40th anniversary of the film’s Japan release. An official 40th-anniversary exhibition and merchandise booth (operated by GRANUP) will be on site, featuring limited-edition goods, special displays of screen-used costumes and a hoverboard, creator collaborations, and dedicated photo spots.

The second wave of celebrity guest announcements is here: Antony Starr and Karl Urban are confirmed to visit Japan!

Two distinguished guests, Antony Starr and Karl Urban, have been confirmed to appear at the event. Both actors will attend on all days of the convention, and special programs such as photo sessions and autograph signings are scheduled at the venue (ticket sales details will be announced at a later date). Starr, who gained worldwide recognition for his powerful portrayal of Homelander in The Boys, and Urban, who plays Butcher in the same series as well as notable roles in The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and many other major films, will join together in this highly anticipated visit. For Urban, this marks his long-awaited return to Japan after eight years, since his last appearance at Tokyo Comic Con in 2017. With the symbolic confrontation between the superhero group “The Seven” and the human vigilantes “The Boys” represented by these two actors, excitement for Tokyo Comic Con 2025 is set to reach even greater heights.

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Tokyo Comic Con 2025: First Wave of Visiting Celebrities Announced — Elijah Wood and Sean Astin Confirmed (Updated August 8)

With less than six months to go until the event, the first wave of visiting celebrities has been announced.

Elijah Wood as Frodo and Sean Astin as Sam will appear together

As the memorable first announcement, three guests have been confirmed: Elijah Wood, known for starring in The Lord of the Rings, his co-star Sean Astin from the same series, and comics icon Jim Lee.

Elijah Wood began his career as a child actor and appeared in hit films such as Deep Impact and The Faculty (released in Japan as Parasite). He went on to gain international acclaim for playing Frodo Baggins in the global hit series The Lord of the Rings. In recent years he has also appeared in notable titles including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Sin City. Wood participated in Tokyo Comic Con in 2020 when it was held online, and this will be his first in-person appearance at the event.

Sean Astin rose to popularity playing Mikey in the beloved 1980s adventure film The Goonies. In The Lord of the Rings series he portrayed Samwise Gamgee, Frodo’s loyal friend, winning hearts among fans worldwide. More recently, he appeared as Bob Newby in Season 2 of the hit drama series Stranger Things, bringing in a new audience. As someone who loves both Mikey and Sam, this writer finds this visit especially exciting.

In Artist Alley—the popular area where comics and animation artists interact with fans—Jim Lee, one of the leading artists in American comics and currently President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer (CCO) of DC Comics, has also been confirmed to participate.

Tickets are now on sale

Various tickets for Tokyo Comic Con 2025 are now on sale. The 3-Day Pass is JPY 9,900 (tax included), and the Advance 1-Day Admission (General) is JPY 5,500 (tax included). Additional options include tickets for U-18 (age 18 and under) and U-15 (age 15 and under), as well as tickets for cosplay participants. Tickets can be purchased via Ticket Pia, the Hollywood Collectors Convention website, and the official Tokyo Comic Con website. If you plan to attend for two or more days, the 3-Day Pass offers good value; even for a single day, the advance ticket is the better deal.

Event Overview

Schedule and Venue

Name: Tokyo Comic Convention 2025 (Tokyo Comic Con 2025)
Dates / Hours:
December 5 (Fri), 2025, 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
December 6 (Sat), 2025, 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
December 7 (Sun), 2025, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (subject to change)
Venue: Makuhari Messe
Organizer: Tokyo Comic Convention, Inc.; Tokyo Comic Convention Executive Committee

Official Website https://tokyocomiccon.jp/en/

Event Contents

• Latest announcements and information on films and comics from Japan and overseas
• Corporate booths (sales of limited and pre-release products, merchandise displays, etc.)
• Exhibits of screen-used movie props and rare items
• Interactive content leveraging the latest technologies
• Interaction with celebrity actors from overseas
• Live shows and performances on stage
• Interaction with cosplayers and cosplay contests
• Exhibition and sale of works by manga artists and illustrators (“Artist Alley”)